Obama Interrupts Vacation To Talk Iraq

President Obama is giving his approval to the appointment of a prime minister to replace Nouri al-Maliki and urging the formation of a new government in Iraq as soon as possible.

In brief remarks delivered at his vacation spot in Martha’s Vineyard, Obama said he and Vice President Joe Biden had spoken with Haider al-Ibadi, who was designated prime minister by the new president.

He also touted success with the recent air strikes and humanitarian relief efforts. Meanwhile, in an interview posted online by The Atlantic, Hillary Clinton made her most aggressive effort yet to distinguish herself from her former boss, rebuking his cautious approach to global crises and saying the U.S. doctrine has to go beyond “don’t do stupid stuff.”